This was a fantastic read. I have not read many stories about German women, or people who may have been hiding partial Jewish heritage during WWII. This felt well researched, but also didn't feel stale and the story kept my attention the whole time! I remained on the edge of my seat and had conflicting feelings about the. main characters and the gray area they seemed to inhabit in a way that added lots to the story. If you like WWII fiction, this may be the perfect, unique title for you to pick up! I found it so engaging and interesting while remaining fresh.

Whelp, I won’t be over this any time soon. It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a historical fiction, and The Sunflower House was an incredible debut by Adriana Allegri. I was absolutely sobbing by the time I finished this.

A haunting and emotional story that immerses readers in the horrors of Nazi Germany’s Lebensborn Program. Allegri’s research brings history to life, and her beautifully crafted characters, especially Allina and Karl add depth to this story. Their love, sacrifice, and resistance are both heartbreaking and inspiring. I'll be thinking about this story and characters for a while.

This was a stunning debut. Stories centering around WWII are always hard to read but so important; not only to never forget, but to continue educating the world. This well researched and heart wrenching novel highlighted a part of history I knew nothing about; the Lebensborn programs.

Told primarily through the lens of Allina Strauss’ life beginning in 1938 as she reflects back on the horrors of her youth to her daughter in 2006, Sunflower House tells the tale of a young German woman who is brought to the Hochland Home in 1939, a place with just as many secrets as her own. This baby making factory housed women who were selected to help perpetuate the Aryan race and reportedly produced anywhere from 10- 25,000 children as records were destroyed when the war was ending.

It’s a love story and also a story of loss, courage, friendship, war, and hope.

I gave The Sunflower House five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you St Martin’s Press, Adriana Allegra and Net Galley for this ARC. These are my honest opinions.

I got sick last year when I got this ARC and was never able to read it. We chose The Sunflower House for our book club book this month and I just loved it.

I loved the characters, the historical aspect, the education (I did not know much about Lebensborn homes in Nazi Germany) and the perfect blend of dual timelines. I even commented, at one point, that I had forgotten we had a present day timeline.

I broke down and absolutely sobbed in the last few chapters.

Wonderfully written!

This was a beautifully crafted novel. From the beginning, I was hooked. The story flowed so well, though much of it was heartbreaking, but I just couldn’t stop reading. A book of WWII that is unique, and really differs from the rest. From the dual timelines, to the romance, to just the overarching plot - it’s one that I highly recommend.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

The Sunflower House (This review is from an ARC sent to me by NetGalley)
A Novel
by Adriana Allegri
This is historical fiction set in Second World War Germany.
Katrine knew absolutely nothing about her mother Allina’s life prior to her immigrating to the United States after World War II. Then one day, while straightening up her mother’s bedroom, Katrine discovers a wooden box hidden in the floor, what she finds is about
the notorious Lebensborn program schemed up by Nazi Germany which becomes the focal point of Allegri’s novel, as one woman tries not just to survive but also do her own small part to help others. Nazi authorities created the Lebensborn program to increase Germany’s population. Pregnant German women deemed “racially valuable” were encouraged to give birth to their children at Lebensborn homes. During World War II, the program became complicit in the kidnapping of foreign children with physical features considered “Aryan” by the Nazis.”
Hochland Home, the setting for The Sunflower house where, Allina is forced into service as a nurse at a state-run baby home There, she becomes both witness and participant to the horrors of Heinrich Himmler’s ruthless eugenics program.
This is also a love story., when Allina meets Karl, a high-ranking SS officer with secrets of his own, the two must decide how much they are willing to share with each other—and how much they can stand to risk as they join forces to save as many children safely out of the program.
The author has meticulously researched the horrific Lebensborn program and she brings her characters though this dark time to show the power of compassion.

A heart wrenching WW2 story that I learned even more tragic information about that time. The pace of the book was very fast but spared no details. I felt like I got a good sense of the main characters life and emotions. I did enjoy the other small chapters with different POVs as well.

This was a really nice cozy read and I enjoyed the characters. I felt very invested in their story and I enjoyed the ending. It took a little while to get into the story but it was well worth the wait. I would recommend this book.

The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri is a haunting and powerful historical novel set during one of the darkest chapters of World War II. The story follows Allina Strauss, a young woman living in Nazi-occupied Germany, whose idyllic life is shattered when she is thrust into the brutal realities of the Lebensborn program. Allina, a Mischling—half-Jewish—must hide her heritage to survive as a nurse in a state-run "baby factory," where women are forced to bear children for the Nazi regime's eugenics program.

The novel shines a light on the atrocities of the Lebensborn program, where women of "pure" Aryan blood were impregnated to give birth to children who would be raised in Nazi families. Allina’s journey is one of resistance, survival, and profound courage as she discovers the horrors unfolding within the walls of the Hochland Home and becomes determined to protect the children in her care.

Allina’s complex relationship with Karl, a high-ranking SS officer with secrets of his own, adds a layer of tension and emotion to the story. Their love story, forged in the midst of such dire circumstances, is both beautiful and heartbreaking, highlighting the strength of the human spirit in times of unimaginable horror.

The Sunflower House is meticulously researched and richly written, offering readers a deep dive into a little-known aspect of Nazi Germany’s brutal regime. It is a poignant tale of love, betrayal, and the lengths one woman will go to protect the innocent. Allegri’s debut novel is a powerful reminder of the resilience and bravery of those who fought to survive in the face of oppression and evil.

This exceptional debut novel tells a powerful and moving story that inspires hope and resilience. With a fresh perspective, it sheds light on the experiences of German citizens who bravely opposed Hitler and his ideologies, including an SS member. In 2006 New Jersey, a hidden box of vintage photographs and mementos reveals long-concealed secrets, and Katrine's mother, Allina, shares her remarkable story of survival and courage in Nazi Germany during WWII. Allina's involvement in Heinrich Himmler's Lebensborn program is a testament to her strength and determination. Despite the dangers, Allina and an important SS officer find love and courage in each other, inspiring a beacon of hope in the darkest of times. The author's vivid storytelling evokes a range of emotions, from fear and anger to grief and ultimately, hope. This novel is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, WWII fiction, and romance, and it will leave readers eagerly anticipating the author's future works. Thank you NetGalley for my ARC and the publisher, St. Martins Press for my gifted book.

The Sunflower House is the first place Allina finally feels safe in a world that has next to no safe places for a person from her family tree. Oddly enough it is the home of an officer of her sworn yet secret enemy.

This is a WWII story that reveals the inner workings of the Lebensborn baby farms Himmler established and maintained throughout the Nazi effort to build up the thousand-year reich for which Hitler had in his best outcome bucket list. Difficult to read and realize (I hadn't fully known of this diabolical program). Thinking of all the living victims of this horror.

Kudos to Adriana Allegri for this well-researched, well-written story. My thoughts keep returning to trapped heroes like Karl and Allina, and those thousands abused children - although they are fictional, they surely represent the non-fiction victims of that terrible time.

Recommended - but beware there are many horrors that may trigger in this read. Know your limits and take care.

*A sincere thank you to Adriana Allegri, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

Wow, this heartbreaking tale opened my eyes to some of the horrors that happened during WWII. The story was interesting and kept me very engaged. It is incredibly well-researched and documented. I really enjoyed the love aspect of the story. It is so incredibly difficult to read about children that were abused and women that didn’t know better. It’s interesting how terrible the German people were treated by their own. The strength and courage that was displayed by the main character is inspirational. I can't wait to read more by Adrianna Allegri.

The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri is a very much recommended book by me. It’s such a well written Historical Fiction there was wonderful research done to make this so beautiful. I devoured this book and had not heard about the Hochland Home or Lederhosen Program. I enjoyed the two timelines and the resilience of those that went through these horrific times.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I wasn’t expecting to have such a visceral reaction to this book. I have read many books set during WWII. I feel like I have become slightly jaded when it comes to the horrors that so many people endured. Not that they still don’t touch me emotionally but they usually don’t trigger me in such a way that I think about them days/weeks later.

The descriptions of these poor babies in this facility was so heartbreaking. Maybe I was so distraught by it due to the fact that my daughter was only a couple of months old at the time. Postpartum hormones were raging. Though I think this book will still impact readers who are not sleep deprived, weepy messes as well.

I had never heard of this kind of facility before reading this story. I was surprised that there are still things that went on during this war that I’m just now discovering. I think I would like to read a nonfiction account of this to dive deeper into the politics of it all.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Historical fiction is probably my favorite genre and so have read many WWII stories. However, this book is about the Lebensborn program which was intended to repopulate Germany with Aryans to replace men lost in the war. The author excellently researches in her writing as she tells the story through the eyes of the main character who ends up in one of these birthing houses and ultimately learns a secret about her own past. I enjoyed the storyline and particularly enjoyed the addition of romance. It is well told and informative that kept me page turning. The characters are complex and likeable. Overall, I found it moving, entertaining and thought provoking. I would definitely recommend this book and will continue to look for more from this author.

The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri is a stunning tale set in WWII, Germany. At the heart of the novel is Allina Strauss, a young woman living an idyllic life in a small German village. Her world shatters when she discovers her Jewish heritage. Forced into a notorious Lebensborn home designed to breed children for the Reich, Allina struggles between survival and helping others trapped in the system.

Karl von Strassberg, an SS officer with hidden loyalties, becomes her unlikely ally. Their sacrificial and unforgettable romance is a small bright spot in a dark reality, proving love can endure hopeless times.

The story unfolds through multiple timelines, including 2006, when Allina’s daughter Katrine discovers a swastika-marked box revealing her mother's past. This structure heightens suspense and sheds light on Allina’s brave choices and Karl’s covert work. While Allegri does not shy from the brutalities of the Nazi regime, hope and resilience shine on every page.

I highly recommend The Sunflower House. Allegri portrays Allina’s journey with empathy, realism, and authenticity. This remarkable debut illuminates history’s darkest corners with a steady undercurrent of hope. Five stars—I can’t recommend it enough.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a complimentary review copy. The opinions are my own.

Special thank you to NetGalley, Adriana Allegri and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this incredible historical fiction.

This book is hands-down a must read for those who love historical fiction. The dedication and research that the author put into this novel is evident from start to finish. The story weaves history, love, grief, betrayal and will have you feeling all the feels. Easily a 5-star read. Strongly recommend.

Wow! I love this historical novel about perseverance, love, and an overwhelming desire to affect change. Allina learns of the Lebensborn program in Nazi Germany and is appalled at how the infants and young children are being raised in order to indoctrinate them and bring out the qualities they want to see in future Nazi leaders. Infants and toddlers who never know the touch of a loved one, living in sterility, and unable to engage in something as simple as playing with others. She meets Karl while there and together they formulate a plan to do better for the children, and to hopefully change the course of their future.
Wonderful writing that has the ability to not only engage the reader, but to evoke strong emotions. I was enthralled!

For fans of Historical Fiction, this did not disappoint. "Family secrets come to light as a young woman fights to save herself, and others, in a Nazi-run baby factory—a real-life Handmaid's Tale—during World War II."

The Sunflower House is a meticulously researched historical novel that uncovers the notorious Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. A tale of one woman's determination to resist and survive, this is also a love story. You get all the feels in this book. Love and loss, friendship, betrayal, and lots of secrets.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book.